Amelia

Amelia was released in Canada on October 23, 2009. Directed by Mira Nair, the film features Hilary Swank as Amelia, Richard Gere as Mr. Amelia Earhart, and Ewan McGregor as her extracurricular lover.

The plot is no surprise. This is the story of Amelia Earhart, America's famous Aviatrix, the first woman to make a trans-Atlantic flight, and the woman who disappeared on an attempt to make a flight around the world. Her story is such that one assumes this will be an easy hit. That was not actually the case with this flick. The viewer keeps waiting for a climax, some emotion somewhere, something to raise your eyebrow at... but it never really comes.

This film as pegged to draw lots of Oscar attention, but my sense is that it will likely miss that mark considerably. It's a period piece, set in the early 1900s and the costumes are indeed very well done. This may be the film's best shot at an Oscar. Hilary Swank was decent, but came nowhere close to her Oscar-winning ways in Million Dollar Baby or Boys Don't Cry. Richard Gere is always easy to look at. How is it this man gets more handsome with age? Like Swank, we have seen Gere perform far beyond anything he does in Amelia. McGregor is always competent, but never really blows your mind. There will be no acting awards in this one. This is disappointing, but the reason is likely tied to a poor screenplay.

Amelia was alright. That's the best I can do. You won't kick yourself for going, but your impressed factor will also be pretty small.